🌀 Meetings and Collaboration in Uzbekistan: From May 14 to 15, the Aigine Cultural Research Center team held a series of key meetings in Uzbekistan focused on fostering collaboration and shaping the methodology for a future regional database of Central Asian petroglyphs. On May 14 in Tashkent, the team met with staff of the Research Institute of Cultural Studies and Intangible Cultural Heritage. Aigine’s director, Gulnara Aitpaeva, shared the Center’s experience in safeguarding intangible heritage through books, animation, and visual media. The meeting concluded with the signing of a memorandum of cooperation. Later that day, the team visited the State Center for Archaeology under the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, where discussions focused on integrating archaeological and ethnographic approaches in petroglyph research. The day concluded with a joint visit to the Khojikent petroglyph complex, accompanied by Uzbek archaeologists. On May 15, the team engaged in a three-hour expert conversation with renowned regional archaeologist Mukhitdin Khujanazarov. The dialogue addressed the boundaries of scholarly interpretation, the role of local knowledge, the diversity of petroglyph themes, and the importance of an interdisciplinary approach. The insights from this meeting will serve as a foundation for the further development of the database methodology.

🌀 Series of Presentations and Discussions: As part of the “Digital Journey into the World of ICH of Kyrgyzstan” project, two themed presentations were held, each dedicated to specific domains of intangible cultural heritage. On May 13, a presentation on the domain “Traditional Music and Performing Arts” took place at the Kyrgyz National University of Arts. The event featured performances by the Ibarat folk ensemble and the university orchestra, as well as an exhibition of traditional musical instruments. Experts reviewed and discussed the presented materials, offering suggestions for the final version.
On May 15, a second presentation was held at State Gymnasium No. 69, covering the domains of “Customs, Rituals, Celebrations” and “Knowledge and Skills Related to Traditional Crafts.” Prior to the event, the Aigine team visited a children’s crafts club operating at the school. The presentation included a quiz and a discussion of the new digital resource on Kyrgyzstan’s ICH with active participation from students and teachers.

🌀 Pawanka Fund Webinar: On May 12, Aigine took part in the first webinar in the “Voices of Local Communities” series, organized by the Pawanka Fund. The focus of the presentation was Aigine’s experience in researching Kyrgyzstan’s sacred sites, pilgrimage practices, and rituals. Senior Project Coordinator Cholponai U.-G. spoke about the Center’s methods for engaging with tradition bearers and the role of sacred places in the cultural ecosystem. The webinar opened with a ritual called Umai Sham, performed by Chynar Seydakhmatova, offering blessings for the Indigenous peoples of the world.